The Cabinet Committee on
Infrastructure has
approved the project of
deepening and widening of
Mumbai Harbour Channel and
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Channel
(phase-I) of JNPT at an estimated
cost of
1,572 crore.
The other cost components of
the projects include direct
dredging cost of around
1,399
crore;
42 crore towards other
related items like idle time
charges of dredgers, navigational
aids, administrative expenditure
and preliminary expenses
of executing agency, modification
of vessel traffic management
system, and provision of
environmental management
plan; contingency of
12.68
crore at the rate of 1 per cent;
and interest during construction
of nearly
118 crore.
The Mumbai Harbour Channel
and JN Port Channel will be
deepened and widened to handle
vessels up to capacity of 6000
TEUs and up to draught of 14
metres by using the tidal window.
The channel length will be
increased from existing 29 km to
33.54 km to meet the natural
water depth of 14 metres at sea.
Further, the width of the channel
will also be increased so as to
maintain a minimum width of
370 metres from the present
dimension of 325 metres in the
straight reach. The completion
period of the work is 25 months
including mobilisation period
after awarding of work.
The key benefits and results on
implementation of the project are:
- Handling bigger size vessels
up to a draught of 14 metres by
using tidal window.
- Attracting international container
vessels and enabling
JN Port to develop as hub port
on the west coast.
- Increase in future traffic.
- Savings in ship waiting cost
and ocean freight costs per
TEU due to larger volumes.
- Avoiding costly and time consuming
feedering operation.
- Optimum utilisation of
capacity.
- Faster turnaround of larger
vessels.
- Incremental regional economic
development and spin off
economic benefits including
employment generation.